Quick-break electrical switch.



No. 718,775. PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

E. A. LA ROCHE. QUICK BREAK ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION IILED DBO. 14, 1901.

No MODEL.

UNITED TATES PATENT vOFFICE.

FREDRICK A. LA ROCHE, NEW YORK, N. Y.

QUICK-BREAK ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,775, dated January20, 1903.

I Application filed December 14, 190].. Serial No. 85,883. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t may concerns' Beit known that I, FREDRICK A. LAROCHE, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Quick-BreakElectrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention in quick break electrical switches relates toimprovementsinthe means for eecting a rapid or instantaneous break, whereby a minimumof arcing at the contactpoints is permitted when the switch is beingthrown into an open position, while the circuit which the switch isadapted to control is energized; and the object of my invention is toprovide a means whereby any ordinary bridged type of electrical switchmaybe readily equipped With a quick-break device arranged in accordancewith my invention and to provide for such device a controller, wherebythe same may be actuated kby the operator in a manner more convenientthan by any of the older devices adapted to accomplish a similar purposeof which I am at present aware; and a further object of my invention isto render the said device capable of being attached with facility to thesame support as that of the elements which enter into the switchstructure. The different features of my invention by which I attainthese objects are illustrated in the drawing hereto attached, whichforms part of this specification, wherein- A is the switch-base, whichis usually composed of marble or slate, upon which the switch B ismounted in the usual manner. Upon the switch-base A, I mount a motor orprojector C in the manner shown in the drawing, in which I haveillustrated the saine by a cross-sectional view taken through the centerof the motor or projector, so as to show the different operating parts.The head D of the projector is secured to a plunger E, and athrust-spring E, contained within the tube G, is arranged in a manner soas to bear and thrust against the plunger E, so as to exert an outwardpressure against the latch or releasing-hook H, which when thrown intothe position of the dotted line by the lever I will release the head D,allowing the compressionspring E to act directly upon the cross-bar ofthe switch B, so as to force it toward that position indicated by thedotted lines or into that position in which the switch will be openedwith sufficient force to throw the latter open rapidly.

To energize the motor or projector C, the switch is thrown into a closedposition, or that shown by the full lines in the drawing, until thecross-bar of the switch has forced the head D into engagement with thehook of the latch II.

It is obvious that the switch B may be manipulated by hand withoutdisturbing the projector. It is also obvious that my projector or motormay be attached to the base of a large variety of switches of a typesimilar toY that shown in the drawing, thereby converting the usual typeof switch referred to into a quick-break switch. v

I am aware that quick-break switches have been in vogue previous to myinvention, wherein a spring-actuated plunger was unlatched bythermostatic provision to automatically effect the quick opening of theswitch and that it has also been proposed to provide a switch turning inbearings and adapted to break at two points, with a handle designed tobe held in an open position by contractile springs attached to a turningpart ofthe switch and to the base, respectively, the handle when turnedto the closed position being retained therein by a springengaged latchhaving a iinger-piece for effecting the release of the lever. Myinvention will be readily distinguished from such constructions in thatI combine with a knifeswitch having engaging clips a spring-actuatedmotor or projector in a position to be energized when the switch isengaged with the clips, said motor including a head against which theswitch bears when so engaged, a latch independently movable of butrestraining said head when pressed back, and a stem connected with saidlatch carrying a fingerrest and extending in such convenient positioncontiguous to the several parts that a slight finger-presen re willdisengage the latch from the head, release the motor or projector, andpermit it to quickly throw the switch from the clips. The location ofthe tube G in the base not only conduces to compactness, but affordsample range for the thrustsprin g and plunger-rod. It also serves forthe convenient application of the securing-nuts both at the front andback of the base.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. In a manually-operated electrical switch, thecombination with a switch and its contacts, of a motor adapted to beenergized by the pressure contact of the switch when moved to the closedposition, a latch for restraining said motor independent of said switch,and a finger-operated lever for moving said latch to release the motorand permit it to outwardly force the switch.

2. In a man ually-operated electrical switch, the combination with aswitch and its contacts, of a motor including a tube located in theswitch-base and containing a thrustspring acting;r upon a plunger rodand head, said head being adapted to be moved back by the pressurecontact of the switch, to energize the spring, a latch movableindependently of the head but adapted to restrain the same when pressedback and a finger device for moving said latch to release lthe head andpermit it to outwardly force the switch.

3. In a manually-operated electrical switch, the combination with aswitch and its contacts, of a motor including a tube located and securedin the switch-base and containing a thrust-spring acting upon a plungerrod and head, the latter being adapted to be moved back by the pressurecontact of the switch to energize the spring, a latch mov'- ableindependently of but vibrated by the head upon its rearward movement torestrain the same, and a lever at the rear of the switch connected tothe latch, extending beyond the switch and carryingr a finger-rest topermit it to be operated to release the latch and allow the motor tooutwardly force the switch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDRICK A. LA ROCHE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. WAHLERS, M. BLUMER.

